Wood Engraving, "November," 1854

A mid-19th-century farm was full of activity all year round. Corn was harvested in the fall. Farmers chopped the cornstalks and set them in the fields. Later, the ears of corn were removed and transported to waiting barns or cribs. The kernels could be ground into meal; the stalks and husks were fed to livestock. Harvesting, like most farm work, was labor intensive and young and old were expected to help.